About Us
Welcome!
I am so happy that you have discovered Valley. It is what school should be: an exciting, welcoming, thought-provoking place where children are excited to come to school each day.
Young children are naturally curious. They want to explore and experiment and discover the world around them. Some schools shut that down, giving students the message that their questions aren’t valid, while others go too far the other way failing to offer the tools students need to think critically, solve difficult problems or challenge themselves. At Valley, we keep children at the center of all our decisions, always asking “What will help them feel connected to their work and motivated to learn more?”
From contemplating seasonal changes in the pre-k unit on the “Darkest Days” to considering how songs impact social movements in the upper school unit “Music as a Cultural Force,” our students tackle big questions with all the delight and curiosity of elementary school, running through the gates each morning, eager to find out more.
This is a place where parents find their friends and siblings can’t wait to join. Read on to learn more about our philosophy, then schedule a tour to see it in action.
All the best,
Shana Reiss de Reyes
Head of School
Our Philosophy
Our educational philosophy shapes every aspect of school life. From recess activities to thematic units, the principles behind our approach are apparent every day.
- Emotional and social intelligence go hand-in-hand with academic studies because children learn best when they are happy and secure
- Play, imagination and exploration are vital to a child’s development
- Children should be taught as individuals, in ways that best suit the child's stage of development and learning style
- Open-ended materials and inquiry in the classroom foster lifelong curiosity, creativity and growth
- A love of learning is developed through experience, inquiry and imagination and results in independent and reflective thinkers
- A complete education cultivates depth of character including empathy, moral courage, sense of responsibility, and commitment to justice
- Effective teachers create an environment where learning is joyful and exciting, children are met with appropriate challenges and independence and group cooperation are both highly valued
